Means and method of graveling wells



24, R940. 1 A. LAYNE 2,216,037

MEANS AND METHOD OF GRAVELING WELLS Filed Dec. 27, 1957 s sheets-sheet 1 LEsLaE A. LAYNE BY 455.10m@ y ATTORNEYS.

sept. 24, 1940. L, A` LAYNE 2,216,037

MEANS AND METHOD OF GRA-VEILING' WELLS Filed Dec. 27, 193'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 LESLIE A. LAYNE INVENTOR.

A TTORNE YS.

sm. 24, 1940. L. A. LAYNE 2,216,037

MEANS AND METHOD- OF GRAVELING WELLS Filed Dec. 27, 1937 s sheets-snee: s

-l/ Y ull-lll 33' s 37" 5l' 1 J l Il t b l 16 mi 1 H1 46 l l l 37' f' l 82,' 1f i ma 45' 32) 40 LESLIE A. LAYNE INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

l v Patented Sept. 24, 1940 2,216,037 MEANS AND METHOD or oaAvELmc WELLS Leslie A. Layne, Houston, Tex., assigner to The Texas Company, a corporation of Delaware Application December 27,1937, serial No. 181,855

- 14 Claims.

The invention relates to a general assembly of 'equipment to be used in the graveling and developing of oil, gas or other wells.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an assembly of equipment wherein a gravel pack may be deposited in the well bore inside of the casing and around the screen.

- Another object of the invention is to provide the combination of a perforated casing containing a well bottom assembly with adeposit of gravel between the casing and the assembly.

Still another object oi the invention is to provide an arrangement of surface equipment for graveling wells wherein the circulation of liquid and liquid containing gravel may be directed as desired either into the casing or into any other string of pipe Within the casing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pair of pumps and a graveling device for circulating either liquid or liquid and gravel into a well in combination with piping connections such that the gravel and liquid or the liquid can be introduced either through a production or a setting string or into the well casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of graveling a well equipped with a perforated casing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for washing a well bottom assembly into a deposit of gravel in a well casing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of equipment whereby a deposit of gravel may be made inside of the casing while the well is maintained under pressure.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing certain portions in section of the Well bottom assembly and gravel tool which may be utilized therewith.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with certain portions in section of the well head which maybe used in practicing the invention.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sections taken on the lines 3 3, 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the arrangement of the surface equipment andthe manner of depositing the gravel inside of a perforated casing.

Fig. '7 shows another form of surface equipment which may be utilized in depositing the gravel within the casing and thereafter so agitatlng the gravel that the well bottom assembly may be washed into position.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation with certain parts in section showing the lower end of the graveling tool.

best seen in Fig. 6 and in this view the well bore is indicated generally at 2. The producing formation is at the elevation 3. The apparatus generally which is utilized in the construction is the 10' set shoe 5 to which the strainer 6 and the liner 1 have been connected. The graveling tool is shown within ahousing 8 in theupper end 9 of th liner 1. This liner projects into the blank portion I0 of the casing I2.

A production string I5 extends downwardly into the well bore to an elevation closely adjacent the upper end 9 of the liner 1 and this string.of pipe is supported by a hanger I6 which is locked in position by the bolts I'I in the casing head I8. 20 This structure is seen in section in Fig. 2.

An inlet pipe I9 is connected to the discharge 20 of the pump 2l and to the casing I2 at I9 so that a flow of liquid may be directed into the area 22 between the casing I2 and the producing string 25 I5. This flow of liquid may move downwardly through the area 22 and around the lower en'd of the pipe I5 and thence upwardly into the area 25 inside of the production string so that it will discharge from the port 26 intoy the pipe 21. A 30 valve 28 may be positioned on this pipe to control or close oi the ow therethrough.

The upper end of the production string I5 is closed by a head 30 which carries a stufI-lngbox 3l to form a seal about the vwash string or gravel- 35 ing string 32. This graveling string'in turn leads to the piping 33 and thence to the graveling apparatus 35. A pump 34 is arranged so that its discharge 36 may be directed through the piping 31 into the inlet of the graveling apparatus or it 40 may be directed through the by-pass 38 and thence into the piping 33.

In this manner the circulation from the pump 34 may or may not pickup a charge of gravel depending upon whether 'it is directed through 45 the graveling device or through the by-passl 38. l If desired the valve 40 on the piping 31 may be so regulated that any desired proportion of the discharge from the pump will pass through the graveling device or the valve 4I in the by- 5 0 pass 38 may be regulated to direct all or any part of the ow through the piping 31. The discharge 42 from the graveling device has a valve 43 thereon which may .be manipulated as desired to control the discharge. r

. 5j The general assembly of all of the equipment is A T connection 43 and a piping 44 joins the piping I9 and the by-pass 38. In this manner the pumps 2| and 34 may be used as desired to either combine the output thereof through the piping I9 or through the piping 33. 'Ihe valves 45 on the pipe 44 and 46 on the pipe I9 may be used as desired to control this flow. The valve 41 on the pipe 33 can be used to close or control the flow through the pipe 33.

If the stream of gravel from the graveling device 35 is directed through the piping 33 as seen in Fig. 6, it will carry particles of gravel into the well through the graveling tool 8 and will deposit the gravel in the casing I2. The liquid will then pass through the strainer 6 and upwardly through the liner 1 into the production string I5. Naturally this circulation will pick up some sand and sediment which has entered the casing from the formation 3 and it has been found that when this carrier liquid emerges from the graveling tool 8 into the liner 9 and production string I5 that its velocity is diminished.

This diminished velocity has a tendency to allow the sediment carried by the liquid to settle therefrom and one of the reasons for' providing the pump 2l is so that liquid may be discharged downwardly through the chamber 22 around the lower end of the production string I5 and upwardly into the chamber 25. This supplemental ow of liquid will increase the rate of flow through the production string with the result that sand and sediment will be maintained in suspension in the liquid and will discharge from the pipe 21. This arrangement tends to prevent clogging of the apparatus. This additional ow may or may not be used depending upon whether or not the production string is or is not connected to the upper end 9 of the liner l.

Fig. 2 shows the production string spaced slightly from the liner, but the two may be connected together. The graveling tool per se is disclosed in the patent to Leslie A. Layne and Harold C. Block, No. 2,096,904, granted October 26, 1937. The specific construction of the graveling tool and its associated parts is disclosed in the patent to Leslie A. Layne, No. 2,154,461 granted April 18, 1939 whereas the general arrangement of graveling method and apparatus is shown in the prior patent to Leslie A. Layne, No. 1,975,162, granted October 22, 1934 and 2,014,770 granted September 17, 1935.

In order to understand the operation of the graveling tool it will be described briefly as including the outside pipe or housing 8 which is telescopically arranged in the coupling 5| on the liner 1. A shoulder`52 in the liner supports a break-out ring 53 which is best seen in Fig. 5 as being grooved at 54 so as to permit its being fractured after the graveling operation has been completed.

This break-out ring 53 supports the shoe of the dental clutch 55 on the lower end of the graveling tool 56. This clutch may be semicircular as seen in section in Fig. 5 so as to orient the graveling tool in the housing 8 when it is turned so as to settle upon the break-out ring. The tail or wash pipe 46' may be carried by the lower end of the tube 56 so that the well may be produced directly through the tool as desired.

The tube 56 serves as a support for the packer or seal 58 which forms part of the graveling tool and .is provided for the purpose of forming a seal about the gravel discharge pipe 59 which extends through the port 60- in the housing 8. The packing 58 is compressed by means of a setting sleeve 60 which is telescopically arranged on the gravel tube 56 and is moved downwardly bythe head 62. This head is connected to the lower end of the gravel line 32. When some of the weight of the gravel line 32 is applied to this head 62, it will move the setting sleeve 60' downwardly so as to expand the packing. The upper end of the setting sleeve 60' is slotted at 64 in order to allow a circulation of liquid upwardly through the gravel tube 56 around the gravel discharge pipe 59 and thence into the upper end of the liner 9.

A coupling 66 serves to connect the graveling tool housing 8 with the upper portion 9 of the liner. The lower end of this coupling may be provided with a sealing material 61 such as lead which is arranged to form a seal with the shoulder 68 onV the upper end of the liner 1. It seems obvious that a sharp dropping of the gravel line 32, a string of drill pipe, or any desired object would impart a suiiicient shock to the breakout ring 53 so as to fracture it and it will then drop out of position and permit the upper liner portion 9 and the packer 10 to move downwardly so that the sealing material 61 will engage the shoulder 68 to provide a seal.

This telescopic movement will be accomplished of course after the graveling operation has been completed and the well has been fully developed for the purpose of closing up the discharge port 60 through which the gravel has been discharged.

It will be understood that as previously described there may be a circulation of liquid downwardly through the gravel string 32, the discharge port 6I) and outwardly into the bore outside of the graveling tube. If this liquid carries gravel, the gravel will be deposited in the well bore and the liquid will then enter the screen 6 carrying with it any sand or sediment. This flow will enter the wash pipe 46 and pass through the slots 64 into the chamber 1I in the upper end of the liner 1 and thence upwardly into the production string I5.

As previously described additional circulation from the pump 2I will ow downwardly through the chamber 22 and merge with this stream of liquid moving upwardly from the chamber 1I. In order to properly position the gravel, the casing packer 10 has been provided on the upper end 9 of the liner 1. This packer includes a support pipe 69, the packer support 12, and the packing 13. This packing is arranged for expansion due to the telescopic movement of the setting sleeve 14. This sleeve may be set by manipulation of the production string I5 or in any other desired manner.

In operation it is contemplated that the well bore 2 will be drilled preferably through the productive formation 3 and the casing I2 may then be set in position as seen in Fig. 6. The casing may or may not be cemented in position as desired. This casing may have openings therein such as 15 at the time it is set in position or it may 'be a solid blank casing and the openings 15 may be made therein by a Well-known perforating apparatus.

In either event, the openings 15 are provided adjacent the elevation of the producing formation in order to permit the entrance of the desirable fluids. When this casing is set in position as seen in Fig. 6 then the well bottom assembly indicated generally at 16 may then be run into position. This assembly includes the the Well bottom assembly will cause it to gradushoe 5, strainer 6, graveling tool 8, and liner 1, and it may be lowered into position by the production string I or by the setting string or tubing 32.

After this assembly has been properly located and the piping I9 and 33 arranged on the surface, a body`of gravel 18 may be deposited in the chamber 19 provided by the annular space between the casing I2 and the strainer IIi. With this arrangement the gravel is coniined by the perforated casing so that the exact amount of gravel positioned is known and the exact position where the gravel is confined is also known. In.

this manner the strainer is protected and a gravel pack provided, the definite elevation of the gravel being known and controlled due to the location of the graveling tool. The packer 1U may be set either before or after the depositing of the gravel and it will be understood that with the arrangement of equipment as seen in Fig. 6 that the gravel may be deposited from the device 35 either through the pipev 33 and the gravel- -ing tool or it may be discharged through the pipe I9 directly into the casing if the packer 10 has not been set. If the well is under pressure, as is often the case with oil or gas wells, it may be preferable to set the packer so as to provide a closed chamber 19 prior to thel introduction of the gravel, whereas under other circumstances it may be desirable to discharge the gravel directly into the casing. If the graveling tool is lowered vin as a separate operation it will be run in after the wellv bottom assembly has been located and the setting tool released.

The dental clutch 55 cooperating with the corresponding parts on the break out ring 53 serves to orient the graveling tool with the discharge port 60 and the apparatus is now ready for the introduction of gravel. It is to be understood,

however, that the graveling tool may be run in on the production string I5 or 'the graveling string 32 as desired. i

After the graveling operation has been completed, the tubing 32, the gravel tool assembly and the flow string I5 are removed from the well and a string of drill stem or tubing is then run into the well and the breakout ring 53is broken out. 'I'he graveling gate housing 8, the collar 66 and the liner portion 9 are all moved downwardly until the lead seal 61 contacts the shoulder 68, thus closing the gravel gate. vThe liner is thus completely set by this additional downward movement and the well is thus completed.

It is intended that the term gravel may include any suitable divided material which will form a filter bed and that in some hook-ups the oil string or development pipe string I5- may be omitted and the added circulation if used can be forced through the graveling string.

In Fig. '7 the arrangement of the parts is somewhat the same except that the deposit 18 of gravel is shown as having been made inside of the casing I2 prior to the introduction .of Ithe well bottom assembly 16', and the well bottom assembly is being lowered into `position by the tubing or setting string 32'. With this arrangement a circulation of liquid will -be had through the bypass 38' and the pipe 33' through the tubing 32 and the wash pipe -46a so that this circulationwill discharge from the lower end 80 of the well bottom assembly directly against the deposit of gravel 18. This discharge of liquid will tend to agitate the body of gravel and carry it away from beneath the set shoe 5 so that the weight of ally settle through the moving gravel.

In ythis manner the strainer can be moved downward to an elevation adjacent the openings 15' and the ilnal result may be an arrangement of structure the same as seen in Fig. 6. It is desirable in some instances to set the strainer afterA the deposit of gravel'has been made and with the apparatus of Fig. '1 such a procedure may be followed. Of course in the use of this manner of washing in the assembly the packer cannot be set until after the assembly has been located, whereas iny Fig. 6 the apparatus lends itself to a completion under higher pressures because there is no movement of the strainer after the well has been closed and the heavy drill mud has been washed out.

Fig. ,7 shows only a single pump and the piping I9a joins directly on to the piping 38' so that the ilow'may be discharged either through the pipe 33 or Isa by manipulation of the valves 46a. and 41. A discharge flow line 8| controlled by a valve 82 may extend from the casing head I6' if desired. In the Fig. 7. form of the invention, the well bottom assembly can be washed Iinto position, the packer set and production of the well accomplished at a single operation due to the arrange ment of structure for setting the assembly by means of the tubing 32.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for graveling wells including in combination a casing in the well which penetrates the producing formation, openings in the casing for the entranceof fluid, a well bottom assembly in said casing, said assembly including a strainer, liner and packer, said assembly being of less diameter than the inside of said casing to provide an annular chamber` in the casing, and means to deposit gravel in said chamber, said last means including a graveling tool carried by and disposed above said assembly.

2. An apparatus for graveling wells including in combination a casing in the well which penetrates the producing formation, openings in the casing vfor the entrance of uid, a well bottom assembly in said casing,said assembly including a strainer, liner and packer, said assembly being of less diameter than the inside of said casing to provide an annular chamber in the casing, and means to deposit gravel in said chamber, said last means including a well head closure to confine the pressure of the well, a pipe string extending downwardly to said liner and means at the lower end of said pipe string for directing the gravel into 4said chamber.

3. An apparatus for graveling wells including in combination a casing in the well which pene- .trates the producing formation, openings in the casing for the entrance of iiuid, a well bottom assembly in said casing, said assembly including a strainer, liner and packer, said assembly being of less diameter than the inside of said casing to provide an annular chamber in the casing, and

means to deposit gravel in said chamber, said llast means including a gravel drum at the surface and piping to inject the gravel into said chamber either through said liner or through said casing.

4. In an apparatus for equipping a gravel walled well, a well casing, a production string of pipe therein, a device to pump gravel in a stream of liquid, and piping connections from said device to both said casing and said production string so that gravel may be introduced through either selectively lor simultaneously.

5. A surface hook-up for introducing gravel into wells including a graveling device, a pump to discharge gravel in a stream of liquid from said device, piping connections from said device to the well, and an additional pump to discharge into said piping between `said device and the well.

6. A surface hook-up for introducing gravel into a well provided with a casing and a production string including a graveling device, a pump to discharge gravel in a stream of liquid from said device, piping connections from said device to the well, and an additional pump to discharge into said piping between said device and the well, said piping including connections to the well caslfeing and to the well .production string.

7. A well graveling apparatus including a gravel drum, a pump, connections from said pump to discharge liquid either through or around said drum, a pipe to receive the discharge either from said drum or directly from said pump, a branch connection from said pipe to the well casing, and an additional pump to discharge into said branch connection.

8. In the art of graveling a well the steps of setting a well casing, setting a well strainer, sealing the space between the top of the strainer and the well casing, further sealing the well at the casing head whereby control of the well pressure is possible, and depositing gravel around the strainer.

9. A method of preparing a gravel chamber in oil wells comprising the steps of setting a well casing in the productive formation, setting a screen in y'said casing, sealing around above the strainer area of the screen and between the casingfand the screen to provide a closed chamber -between the screen andl casing, and depositing gravel in such chamber.

10. A well graveling apparatus including a well bottom assembly having a strainer, graveling tool and packer thereon, means to discharge gravel from said tool, and frangible means supporting said tool and packer upon said strainer.

11. A well graveling apparatus including a well bottom assembly having a strainer, graveling tool and packer thereon, means to discharge gravel from said tool, frangible means supporting said tool and packer upon said strainer, and a telescopng connection between said tool and strainer to be released upon breaking of said means so that said tool is movedv into said strainer to close said assembly.

12. A combination well graveling and setting' assembly including a string of pipe, a packer thereon, a telescoping connection in the string below said packer, means to hold said connection extended, a strainer below said connection, a graveling tool to discharge gravel from said string at said connection, said means being releasable so that said connection may be telescoped to close the gravel discharge, and means to set said packer.

13. The combination of a casing, a string of pipe in said casing, a packer and strainer thereon, means to discharge gravel and liquid from said string of pipe, and means to thereafter set said packer to close about said string of pipe.

14. A method of completing a gravel wall in a well under pressure inside of a perforated casing comprising the steps of positioning a body of gravel in the well in the casing, lowering a well bottom assembly through the casing, circulating a stream of liquid from said well bottom assembly to agitate the gravel so that the assembly may penetrate the gravel, and setting a packer to confine the deposit of gravel.

LESLIE A. LAYNE. 

